This letter was written by Charles Eliphalet Walbridge (1841-1913) to his brother, George Walbridge, while serving in Co. H, 100th New York Infantry and later as the Assistant Quarter Master at Bermuda Hundred in Butler’s Command.

Charles E. Walbridge was born in Buffalo on 24 July 1841. Shortly after the death of his father—George B. Walbridge, a well known merchant of Buffalo—Charles left school and entered the employ of Pratt & Co., who were at that time the most extensive hardware dealers in the city. He remained with them until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, and was made second lieutenant of Co. H. He served with this regiment until 1864, being promoted to first lieutenant in July, 1862, and to captain in January, 1863. In February, 1864, he was commissioned by the president as captain and Assistant Quarter Master (AQM) of volunteers. In February, 1865, he was brevetted major, and shortly after was appointed chief quartermaster of the Tenth Army Corps, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. After receiving his discharge Walbridge stayed for several months in the South. He purchased surplus horses and mules from the army and sold them to Southerners who were affected by Sherman’s march.

In 1866 he returned to Buffalo and re-entered the service of his former employers, remaining until 1869, when he engaged in business for himself. In 1884 the firm of Walbridge & Co. was formed and it became one of the largest hardware establishments in Buffalo. He married Annie F. Noble of Brooklyn in 1868 and they started their lives together in Buffalo. The Walbridges left a considerable paper trail dating from the 1840s up to 1913, the year of Charles Walbridges death.

In this lengthy letter, Charles gives a description of the Battle of Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines) in which the 100th New York participated and in which they suffered severe losses. The regiment was in Casey’s Division of Keyes’ 4th Corps and were among the first troops engaged, having been overwhelmed and driven back through their encampment, losing most everything but what they wore and carried with them into battle that morning. Charles’ account attempts to put the best spin on their performance but other Corps and Divisions had much less complimentary things to say about Casey’s Division. It would be Hooker’s and Kearny’s Divisions of Heintzelman’s 3rd Corps that had to make the charge through the “slashing” referenced in Charles’ letter.

To read more of Charles’ Civil War Letters published on Spared & Shared, go to 1862-64: Charles Eliphalet Walbridge to George Walbridge.

Transcription

About a mile west of Bottom’s Bridge, Va.
Saturday, June 7th, 1862

Dear George,

I was made glad yesterday by receiving your epistle of last Saturday which  was truly an eventful day for our regiment. You of course have seen full accounts of the battle. The nearest one to the truth that I have seen is the description of the battle in the N. Y. Herald of June 5th. Our regiment—and I may say our whole brigade—fought well, and did not give way until they were ordered to, on account of the overpowering numbers of the enemy.

Our regiment was on the extreme left (I suppose you know that our brigade formed the first line which was opposed to the rebels) and  as we had to retreat by the right in order to reach the road, we brought up the rear in the retreat. The battle commenced at about one o’clock, and it was after four when our division was reinforced, so you see that Casey’s Division, which “so unaccountably gave way,” and which actually numbered between five and six thousand, fought the whole body of the enemy for over three hours and then only fell back about two miles.

At this point there were strong earthworks thrown up and rifle pits dug and the reinforcements which came up were put in position behind these entrenchments, but then were not attacked. The facts are, George, that our division was entirely  unsupported until these reinforcements arrived; that is—there were no troops in our rear to march up in case of an attack on us. This the enemy had no doubt ascertained and hence the attempt to force a passage through what they probably considered a  weak spot.

There is one thing which I notice the Herald does not mention in speaking of the bayonet charge in which the 100th took part. It does not say that we charged into a “slashing” but this was the fact. A “slashing” or “cheveaux de fris” is made by felling timber and just letting trees, branches, and leaves, lay just as they happen to fall.  This slashing was cut by our own men for the purpose of making it difficult for the enemy to pass through it; and yet our men were ordered to charge into it. It was of course very hard & slow work and impossible to maintain an alignment. Our regiment advanced very near to the enemy (Capt. Dye says thirty feet, and Col. Staunton says “until we could very see their eyes.”) when the orders to halt, and then to retreat, were given. We were at this time completely flanked on both the right and left and had we not fallen back, must have been surrounded in a very few minutes.

Although I was not with my regiment, I was right in the midst of the battle. I have been out on the battlefield since and I see that I passed our original line of battle and went up the road for some distance alongside the slashing. But alas, I cannot claim that I was on any use (except as quartermaster who are a kind of noncombatant species). It was an exciting time I assure you. There was a continual “whiz” of bullets with perhaps once every second, the rush of a shell (which sounds something like a big rocket) and every now and then I heart a “spat” as a ball struck some poor fellow.

Our regiment suffered severely. Let me give a list of the casualties. Col. Brown [is] supposed to be killed. The last that was seen of him, he is said to have been spiking  guns. Lt. Kellogg & Lt. Wilkinson, also killed. Capt. Moore wounded and missing.  Capt. Nash, Lt. Mayo, Lt. Brown, wounded. Capt. Bailey, Lt. Gardner, Lt. Lynch, Lt.  Newell, all missing. These last four were on picket the day of the attack and were  probably taken prisoners. In our company we have lost two killed, five missing, and  fifteen wounded. I presume most or all of those reported missing are killed, but it is possible that some of them may still be alive (Co. H went into battle with less than 50  men).

“Everybody agrees that the rebels fought splendidly. Our shells would open great gaps in their ranks but they would close up without a moment’s hesitation.”

— Charles E. Walbridge, Co. H, 100th New York Infantry, 7 June 1862

Everybody agrees that the rebels fought splendidly. Our shells would open great gaps in their ranks but they would close up without a moment’s hesitation.

Lt. Smith had the heel of his boot taken off by a shell and the heel of his foot somewhat bruised by the same missive, but was hurt in no other way. Capt. Dye was not hurt. The latter is now quite unwell. I have taken him to a house about five miles from here where, although there is no family but the owner himself, he can take better care of himself than he could in the field.

I am still acting Q. M. and I can assure you I have enough to do. The Quartermaster’s Sergeant and Commissary Sergeant are both sick and absent from the regiment so that I perform their duties as well as my own. I have been intending to write home for a long time but have truly been too busy to do it. Your letter has been the  first I have received for a good while. Before that, I had one from Louise, and before that one from Mother.

I was quite astonished to hear about the volunteering excitement in Buffalo.  That would have indeed been “a bully regiment” if it had gone. Don’t you go into any such thing without asking my advice first, which I shall be happy to give when called  upon. I think you would enjoy being a Light Guard very much, besides which it will be very useful to you to have a knowledge of military tactics for America must hereafter be a military nation, and for at least ten years to come, every other man you meet will be well posted in all military matters.

You cannot imagine how surprised I was to see my letter to Mother after the battle of Williamsburg published in the Commercial. I would prefer not to have any more published as they are not fit “for the public gaze.”

There is glorious news today from Halleck’s Army though you probably heard it day before yesterday, and by this time have probably received full particulars. Ten thousand prisoners and fifteen thousand stands of arms is a big thing.

I am looking for the Paymaster to show himself before long. You know I haven’t been paid yet for March & April. Will you please ask Butler if he ever paid Tryon anything on my account? Please get a bill of Tryon and also one of Metzger and send them to me, as I don’t remember the amounts but would know if I should see the bills. I do not know whether I am entitled to Q. M. pay for the time I have been acting or not but shall apply for it anyhow. I received a letter yesterday from Denniston of L  & I. J. White’s dated the 20th. I also received a paper from him some days ago. Please give him my sincere thanks for both. He wrote me a very kind brotherly letter, which it did me good to read.

I am still indebted to Will Butler for a letter and think I will write to him the very next one I write. I have sometime gone so far as to sit down to write him but when I get the pen in my hand and the paper before me, I can’t resist the temptation to write to Mother, or to one of my dear brothers and sisters.

Dear me it is clouding up again. It has rained most every day for a fortnight,  making it very uncomfortable as you may easily suppose.

The Chickahominy—which was a mere brook when I first crossed it—is now a respectable little river and a person crossing it, or rather crossing the flats on each side of the bridge, has to ford a considerable distance. This morning I was crossing  with a baggage train, when one of the wagons got fast in the very deepest part (about three feet deep). I ordered the teamsters to take off the leading mules and put on a  team of horses which was accordingly done right in the middle of the stream, greatly to the drivers discomfort and the wagon was soon restored to its native element.

You observe that Dixie must come into play nicely now. Alas, poor Dixie. She was too young to be ridden much. Besides, I have a government horse, so I left Dixie in the company when I became Quartermaster to carry the Captain & Lieutenant’s baggage. I had  several offers to buy her, but didn’t care to accept any of them. The day of the battle, Washington had turned her loose to graze and when the balls began to fly pretty thick, he tried to catch her but she was inclined to be frisky  and wouldn’t be caught, so she had to be “abandoned to the enemy.” Lieut. Smith &  the Capt. lost their overcoats, blankets, etc. and the Capt. lost his knapsacks. Lieut.  S’s fortunately was across the Chickahominy with the balance of the baggage.

I suppose that the “Michigan Estate” will prove to be a substantial benefit to our finances. Has Mr. Miller been around lately to see about it? Oh George, you don’t know how much I would like to see you all again. Well good bye for this time. Give Mother a kiss for me and my love to all the rest. Yours affectionately,  — Charlie

I am much obliged for the envelope and stamp you have sent me in the last few letters. I have received just now. I have no lack of the former. Keep an account of stamps in which you send me. You know my salary is a good deal larger than yours & of course  I want to pay all that you spend for me.